Amendment_Report_for

SECTION 1. (1) There is created a commission to study the effectiveness and efficiency of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) in providing adequacy and equity in public school funding. The commission shall, at a minimum, study and report on the following factors related to MAEP:

(a) Efficiency;

(b) Selection of school districts for funding calculations;

(d) State and local contributions;

(e) Add on programs; and

(f) Consolidation of school districts.

The State Board of Education shall contract with a consulting firm that has expertise in public school funding formulas to assist the commission with the study. The commission shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by November 1, 2005, including any recommended legislation.

(2) The commission shall be composed of the following ten (10) members:

(a) The Chairman of the House and Senate Education Committees;

(b) The Chairman of the House and Senate Appropriation Committees;

(d) Three (3) senators to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.

(3) Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act. The commission shall hold its first meeting before August 1, 2005. The Chairman of the House Education Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee shall serve as cochairmen of the commission.

(4) Members of the commission may not be compensated for the performance of their duties. Any incidental costs associated with conducting the study shall be paid by the State Department of Education.

(5) To effectuate the purposes of this section, any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or of any political subdivision thereof shall, at the request of the chairperson of the task force, provide to the commission such facilities, assistance and data as will enable the commission to properly carry out its duties.

SECTION 2. (1) There is created a commission to study the effectiveness and efficiency of the administration of college tuition assistance programs administered by the institutions of higher learning. In addition, the commission shall evaluate merit-based college tuition assistance programs and procedures and guidelines for implementing merit-based programs.

The commission shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the House and Senate Education Committees by October 1, 2005, including any recommended legislation.

(2) The commission shall be composed of the following three (3) members:

(a) A representative of the State Department of Education, to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education;

(b) A representative from the institutions of higher learning, to be appointed by the commissioner;

(c) A representative from the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, to be appointed by the chairman of the board.

(3) Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act. The commission shall hold its first meeting before July 15, 2005.

(4) Members of the commission may not be compensated for the performance of their duties. Any incidental costs associated with conducting the study shall be paid by the State Department of Education.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.